Frontier Airlines hit someone
Definition
A reference to the May 2026 aviation tragedy at Denver International Airport, where a Frontier Airlines jet fatally struck a trespasser who had jumped the perimeter fence and wandered onto the active runway during takeoff.
Slang or headline shorthand for an extreme airport security fail, evoking images of budget airline drama turning lethally literal.
Modern idiom symbolizing how even low-cost carriers can deliver high-impact 'baggage' issues—unintentionally, of course.
Examples
Forget roller coasters; when Frontier Airlines hit someone on the runway, that's the thrill ride nobody booked.
My travel buddy joked that after Frontier Airlines hit someone, we'd take the scenic route—by foot.
In aviation bingo, 'Frontier Airlines hit someone' just checked the 'wild card' box.
Budget flyers now whisper 'Frontier Airlines hit someone' like it's the airline equivalent of 'The Call is Coming from Inside the Plane.'